Government puts out draft ESZ notification of Gangotri National Park

The environment ministry has put of a draft notification of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Gangotri National Park, from where the Ganga originates, with its extent varying from 0 to 10 kms across an area of 1103.08 square kilometers. The draft ESZ notification, reviewed by DNA, has allowed construction of new roads and expansion of old ones in the park's ESZ, beyond 1km of the park or ESZ boundary, whichever is nearer, after due approvals from state and central agencies to meet demands of locals.

The notification will be finalised after taking on board public comments, suggestions and objections.

The provision for roads is also likely to help work on Prime Minister's pet Chardham project that involves widening of 900kms of highways between the holy Hindu shrines; Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The draft notification has also allowed construction of new hotels and resorts beyond 1km from the park or ESZ's boundary, whichever is nearer, in areas designated as per the tourism master plan of ESZ. The state government would have to prepare a zonal master plan, to implement the ESZ notification, within two years and only after consulting people, the ministry notification said.

The prime objective of delineating an ESZ around parks and sanctuaries is to create a buffer between a high protection zone and human settlements near them. Activities inside ESZ are regulated and some are prohibited on a case-to-case basis. Commercial mining, establishment of new polluting industries, construction of major thermal and hydroelectric projects, use of hazardous substances, effluent discharge, use of plastic bags, among others, will be prohibited in the area.

The draft ESZ notification for Gangotri National Park comes days after the environment ministry relaxed the Bhagirathi ESZ notification of 2012, to allow limited land use conversion to build infrastructure for locals and national security.

NATURE TRAIL

• Gangotri national park, spread over 2.4k sq.km, is the 3rd biggest park in India.
   
• It is home to Snow Leopards, Himalayan Black Bears and other protected species
   
• There are 37 peaks inside the park, which has northern temperate dry deciduous & coniferous forest.